Milk carton closure fastener



Nov. 16, 1965 G. H. JACKSON MILK CARTON CLOSURE FASTENER Filed Oct. 7,1963 m 5 m J M 0 w H e m w G INVENTOR.

United States Patent Filed Oct. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 314,374 3 Claims.((Il, 229-17) The present invention relates to cardboard and equivalentpaperboard containers such as are presently being used by modern dairiesand has more particular reference to a paraflin-coated or plastic-coatedcarton for milk, cream half-and-half, fruit juices and the like. Moreparticularly, the invention has to do with the style of carton which hasan inverted V-shaped or so-called gable-type top wherein the vertexprovides a ridge and wherein the wall construction at one end of theridge is constructed to provide an expansible and contractible pouringspout.

The broad object of the present invention is to provide rigidifying andfastening means which is structurally designed and functionally adaptedto be fitted over the ridge or rib and which, when in its intendednormal position keeps the folding or expansible pouring spout closed,that is after it has been initially opened for use, whereby to thusprovide a more reliable and satisfactory carton top construction. Liquidcontaining cartons in the category herein under consideration haveapparently met with widespread approval and use despite the fact thatthe popularly used folding pouring spout is not always as easilyopenable and closable as is supposedly the case. This is particularlytrue when the spout-equipped carton is full and of a half gallon, forexample, size. Not only may the average adult have trouble handling andopening and closing the spout thereof, it is known that the energeticchild who takes it upon himself to serve himself encounters even greaterdifiiculties in meeting with handling and pouring problems. Then, too,it is the habit of some users, particularly children, to pour out milkto drink and then forget to fold in and close up the spout after havingdone so. Without attempting to elaborate on the many difficulties of theoverall problem it will be clear that it is an object in the instantmatter to provide members of the public with a simple, practical andeconomical clip, that is, one which is fittingly capped over the rib orridge in a manner to reinforce it and to keep the carton (regardless ofsize or capacity) in shape. When the spout is closed and the clip isclosed the carton with its contents is intact and easy and ready tohandle.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention a U-shaped orchannel-shaped clip is provided. This clip is preferably made of sheetmetal having desired resilient properties, and is such in constructionthat one end thereof is readily attachable to and detachable from oneend of the cartons ridge. The manner of attaching the same alsofunctions to provide a hinge or pivot whereby the clip can be swung downto a normal spoutretaining and closing position or alternatively swungup to an out-of-the-way position at which time it remains as a signalcalling upon the user to be sure to close the spout and fasten it beforereturning it to the refrigerator for future use.

Stated somewhat more explicitly the invention comprises a feasible,easy-to-use clip which can be successfully made and sold as a newarticle of manufacture and which can be supplied for use by a dairy orsimilar sales and delivery service and which also lends itself to practical use for sale as an individual article of manufacture likely to besold in dime stores and the like and then taken home and used over andover. To this end the clips will be made of distinguishably differentsizes for use on half-pints, pints, quarts, half-gallons and so on.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on a sheet metal, plastic or equivalentelongated clip which is U-shaped or channel-shaped in cross-section,which has its pivotally mounted end fashioned to provide attaching andhinging or pivoting ears, said ears provided with detents and saiddetents providing the pivot members, said ears being slightly resilientto obtain the desired attaching, retaining and hinging action.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view but which serves to show the construction andmanner of using the clip and which shows the pouring spout expanded andopen for pouring purposes and illustrates the clip in a swung-up,out-ofthe-way but attached position; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the sectionline 33 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the views of the drawing the number 4 designatesahollow, non-circular container or body portion of the overall milk orequivalent carton and which as is presented in FIGS. 1 and 2 is providedwith a now generally well known inverted V-shaped top 6 having thecooperating outwardly and downwardly sloping walls 8 whose upper freeedge portions are fashioned into opposed interconnected lips or flanges10 which conjointly define an across-the-top ridge or rib 12. This ridgeis sometimes referred to as the upstanding vertex of the V-top. Asbrought out in FIG. 2, it is such that it permits the incorporation inthe top of an expansible and contractible pouring spout which is shownin expanded pouring position in FIG. 2 as denoted generally at 14. Thewing portions 16 are joined to and cooperate with the in and out foldingwings or wall portions 18 thus defining the aforementioned self-pouringspout.

Childish thoughtlessness, adult indifference and careless carton use ingeneral results in many persons thinking of the pouring-type carton as anuisance when, as a matter of fact one acquires the desirable habit ofclosing the spout after each use and rigidifying it as is permissiblewith the present invention, many of the carton-handling difiiculties areconveniently and acceptably met.

Adoption and use of the present invention does not re quire any changeor changes in the construction of the popularly used V-top 6. Tosatisfactorily carry out the present invention all that is needed is thesimple economical clip 20. While this clip may no doubt be molded andmade from a suitable grade of plastic material the experimental models,which have proved out to be satisfactory in construction and use, havebeen made from aluminum and stainless steel and the like. The clip is ofelongated form and channel-shaped in cross-section and embodies anopen-ended channel one end of which is conveniently denoted at 22 andthe other end, for sake of distinction, denoted at 24. This clipcomprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel channel walls 26 havinglengthwise corresponding edges joined by a rounded connecting web 28.The free lengthwise edges of the walls or flanges are flared outwardlyas at 30 to define lip-like rests or abutments. When the clip is closedthese abutments reside atop the vertex or crest portion of the V-top 6.The channel is such that it seats and snugly receives the ridge or rib12. At the end 24 the web 28 is discontinued as at 32 and convenientlydefines a pair of companion yieldable or resilient attaching, retainingand pivoting ears 34. These ears straddle the coacting flanges or wallportions at one end portion of the ridge and are readily attachablethereto and subsequently detachable therefrom. To the ends desired theseears 34 are bendably resilient and can be piloted into place andforcibly spread apart, positioned in a manner to yieldingly engage theintended coacting surfaces of the aforementioned flanges. Then, too,these ears are provided with inwardly extending axially aligneddimple-like projections 36 whose inner ends are truncated to provideclip-attaching and hinging detents, the latter hingedly engaging thesurfaces of the flanges at that end of the ridge opposite said pouringspout. When the clip is properly applied with the end portion of theridge sandwiched therebetween, the detents yieldingly sink and embedthemselves in place as denoted at 37 in FIG. 3.

In such instances where the milk-filled carton is supplied with a clipattached as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1 it will be evident thatthe presence of the clip fitting snugly on the ridge or rib greatlystrengthens and rigidities the rib and, as is evident, permits thecartons to be handled freely and as a matter of fact roughly withoutrunning the risk of the seal breaking and permitting leakage at the top.More likely than not it might be the policy of the supplier or dairy toprovide each customer with a set of clips for different sized cartonsand to furnish extra clips whenever necessary or desired as a part of adesirable and acceptable, service. Clips such as the ones underconsideration could be also advantageously used as giveaway and premiumitems for dairy, juice and other advertising purposes. In any event andregardless of the commercial aspect of the invention it will be seenthat it constitutes a novel contribution to the art in combination withthe opener-equipped ridge and also independently thereof.

In practice it is evident that the unique clip is readily applied byfitting the ears or terminal end portions 34 over one end or corner ofthe ridge 12. It may be necessary to spread these ears 34 slightly apartwith the fingers and then drop the ears in place. When the ears arereleased the spring return properties inherent therein will function toclampingly attach the ears to the cooperating component flanges of theridge. It is desirable to make sure that the clip is so applied that theend portion 24 is at the left in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that the opposite endportion 22 will be even or flush with the righthand end as shownparticularly in FIG. 1. It follows that the clip is simply capped overand encloses and shields the ridge and rigidifies it. When, however, itis so desired the user swings the clip from a closed to an open positionas shown in FIG. 2 whereupon the spout 14 can be opened up for milkpouring purposes. When the pouring job has been completed the componentwings or walls of the spout are refolded to resume their originalrelative positions and the clip is swung back down from the positionillustrated in FIG. 2 to the initial position shown in FIG. 1.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

I claim:

1. In combination, a dairy-type container for milk, cream,half-and-half, fruit juices or the like comprising: a paraffin-coated orplastic-coated flexible carton embodying a self-standing containerportion having an inverted V-shaped gable-like top whose vertex isfashioned into an elongated ridge, said top having a creased foldingwall at one end of said ridge constituting and providing an integralbuilt-in extensible and contractible manually openable and closablefunneling and pouring spout, and a bodily attachable and detachable rige e n orcing spoutretaining and sealing clip, said clip beingchannel-shaped in cross-section, of a length commensurate with thelength of said ridge, being made of resilient sheet material, said clipbeing re-usable and detachably capped and clasped into position atopsaid ridge with the resilient wall portions thereof yieldingly clampedin retaining and rigiditying position against the capped and claspedwall portions of said ridge from end to end, said clip having one endportion provided with a pair of opposed spaced parallel attaching andretaining ears, said ears being flexible and yieldable and beingprovided with inwardly extending aligned oppositely disposed truncatedprojections constituting and providing clip attaching and hingingdetents, said detents hingedly engaging that end of the ridge oppositesaid pouring spout.

2. A ridge reinforcing, spout fastening milk carton clip comprising anelongated body member channel-shaped in cross-section, the channelportion thereof being open along one lengthwise side of said body andopen at the respective transverse ends and embodying opposed flat sidewalls connected along corresponding upper longitudinal edge portions byan intervening web, said clip being adapted to be conformingly andfittingly capped over the aforementioned ridge and being of a lengthcommensurate with the length of said ridge, said web terminating shortof corresponding end portions of the opposed side Walls and transformingthe extending Wall portions into attaching and retaining ears, said earsbeing flexible and yieldable and being provided with inwardly extendingaligned truncated projections providing oppositely disposed detents,said detents constituting clip attaching and hinging means.

3. A readily attachable and detachable re-usable milk carton clipcomprising: an elongated one piece resilient sheet material clipchannel-shaped in cross-section with the channel portion thereof open atits respective transverse ends and open along one lengthwise side, saidclip embodying opposed spaced parallel flat-faced uninterruptedly smoothwalls, the upper longitudinal edge portions of said walls being joinedby a connecting web, said web extending from one end of the clip towardand terminating short of the opposite end of the clip and portions ofthe side walls at said opposite end of said web extending therebeyond,being resilient and providing a pair of opposed snap-on type clipattaching and retaining ears, each ear being indented providingprojections, said projections being opposed, inwardly extending axiallypunctured and providing oriented detents, said detents being coordinatedand constituting clip attaching and pivoting means, the lowerlongitudinal edges of said side walls having opposed outwardly diverginglip portions having rounded terminal ends.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 546,492 9/1895Millert 12936 966,387 8/1910 Difio 30335 1,915,027 6/1933 Iagenberg.2,172,930 9/1939 Bensel 22951 X 2,241,834 5/1941 Wentz 22965 2,491,26412/ 1949 Hermani 22031 2,533,539 12/1950 Vivian 22965 2,655,259 10/1953Davoren 220-31 X 3,029,997 4/ 1962 Kauifeld 22937 3,086,264 4/1963Tindal 22965 X FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A DAIRY-TYPE CONTAINER FOR MILK, CREAM,HALF-AND-HALF, FRUIT JUICES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING: A PARAFFIN-COATED ORPLASTIC-COATED FLEXIBLE CARTON EMBODYING A SELF-STANDING CONTAINERPORTION HAVING AN INVERTED V-SHAPED GABLE-LIKE TOP WHOSE VERTEX ISFASHIONED INTO AN ELONGATED RIDGE, SAID TOP HAVING A CREASED FOLDINGWALL AT ONE END OF SAID RIDGE CONSTITUTING AND PROVIDING AN INTEGRALBUILT-IN EXTENSIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE MANUALLY INTEABLE AND CLOSABLEFUNNELING AND POURING SPOUT, AND A BODILY ATTACHABLE AND DETACHABLERIDGE REINFORCING SPOUTRETAINING AND SEALING CLIP, SAID CLIP BEINGCHANNEL-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION, OF A LENGTH COMMENSURATE WITH THELENGTH OF SAID RIDGE, BEING MADE OF RESILIENT SHEET MATERIAL, SAID CLIPBEING RE-USABLE AND DETACHABLY CAPPED AND CLAPSED INTO POSITION ATOPSAID RIDGE WITH THE RESILIENT WALL PORTIONS THEREOF YIELDINGLY CLAMPEDIN RETAINING AND RIGIDIFYING POSITION AGAINST THE CAPPED AND CLAPSEDWALL PORTIONS OF SAID RIDGE FROM END TO END, SAID CLIP HAVING ONE ENDPORTION PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF OPPOSED SPACED PARALLEL ATTACHING ANDRETAINING EARS, SAID EARS BEING FLEXIBLE AND YEILDABLE AND BEINGPROVIDED WITH INWARDLY EXTENDING ALIGNED OPPOSITELY DISPOSED TRUNCATEDPROJECTIONS CONSTITUTING AND PROVIDING CLIP ATTACHING AND HINGINGDETENTS, SAID DETENTS HINGEDLY ENGAGING THAT END OF THE RIDGE OPPOSITESAID POURING SPOUT.